Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-05-14

heaTt-whols out Of that fiery ordeal, to
ind rest and peace in a life Of refined
quiet
For Leonie could be 80 sentimental that
no one. least OF all poor, infatuated Fred,
would divine that she was yawning behind
her fan.
a home Of peace and Lowell"
That was LsOnie's modest DESIRE If her
own word was 10 be takens and Fred mag
ined her q @ministering angel" therein.
| She had been with him more than once
when the frightful heart-spasms that were
his mothers sad legacy had followed some
| great excitement. and, 70 do her justice all
| the true woman came forward at such Tines
| There was but little % do but that little
was done tenderly and deity. his neckhe
and collar looseneds his head raised Fred
would recover to find Leonie tanning him
| gently. his face wet with her soft handker-
chief upon his forehead and her eyes, full
Of WOmaniY tenderness, liked upon his own.
Knowing herself ansWerable for the at
tack by some word Of encouragement for
his mad passion LeOnie would draw back
for a time, only to meet reproaches and the
| threat Of worse trouble by the excitement
OF dispair. She had played with edged
tools till she could handle them very skill
fully, but these cut her conscience sharply
at times.
Yet she would not drop the dangerous
game, because, after ali, she might do
worse than marry Frederick La Rue.
@He cannot live long" she wrote in con-
hdenee 10 her mother, @and 600, 600
would be a comfortable fortune
for his widow. The trouble is that he viii
not be Of age for nearly two years, and may
die before he can make viii Still shall
keep him as my IOrlOrn hope Be sure
you keep your eye on Mr.. DOlman, if, as
you write, you think my absence has really
quickened his love. If he proposes, I will
return at once, for, as you say 1t viii not
do to let such an offer as that pass now.
Six years ago should have refused him,
but, between ourselves, opportunities IN
crease IN value as years pass by"
Keeping Fred as q "forlon hope" meant
to give him just enough encouragement as
made Mrs. La Rue nearly frantic, and at
the same time keeping clear OF an actual
engagement
"To tell the truth" Miss Castlemaine
wrote. Il am dreadfully weary of Fred'5
raptures. He is such boy yet in feeling
and words. that his love has no shades or
refnements, and is as blunt and Outspoken
as a child's delight over toy. The least
smile, tiniest word OF hope, sends him
into the seventh heaven of ecstasy, while
frOwn or cold look reduces him to despair.
It was amusing at hrst, but has become
6resomel ImOgene is an agonies; but,
really, mamma, if the heart disease is
hereditary, don't see why she should feel
50 much responsibility. One would think,
to hear her, that she was actually answer
able for his life"
And poor Imogene would not have denied
the statement ~Lookers-on, We are told,
@see most Of the game" and Imogene
looked on until her heart grew sick. She
thoroughly understood LeOnie's tactics,
yet to send her away would probably make
matters worse, az Fred was sure to
champion her cause, and would probably
fnIIRUv haF Words of
wasted; remOnstrances were in vain; and
the sacred charge her husband had left her
had become the misery of the conscien- /
tiOus woman's life
"Can you not sss.' she asked Leonie,
with all her hea-t-anguish in her voice,
''that you are killing Fred2"
ply.
Il do not ezaRgerate. He has wasted to
a shadow since you came, and his color
huctuates till it terrihes me. tell you that
he cannot bear this strain of excitement"
"HOw can 1 help boys foolish infatUa-
tionG ! have had dozens of BOYS in love
with me, and they al got over it. Calf
love is ever in extremes Imogene."
Erred is u man in feeling, Leonie."
bah! He viii forget me in a month
after leave"
The winter wore away, and April came;
but Leonie said nothing Of returning home
Then a momentOus letter came. Mamma
had succeeded where Leonie had failed,
and Mr.. DOlman's heart, hand, and fortune
were laid at the feet Of Miss Castlemaine.
Exultant, and without one pang Of self
reDrOach. Leonie wrote maidenlY, charm
ing letter Of acceptance, and concluded her
letter to her mother with the words
4 viii be with you On Thursday. Have
my rousseau under way by that time, and
do not spare expense. 1 can soon repay all
you spend"
She took the letters to the post herself,
and coming back in the dusk Of twilight
found Mrs. La Rue and Fred in the porch,
the air being soft as June.
~Why did you g. alone?" Fred asked,
She laughed, a sweet, silvery laugh, be-
fore she answered.
II must learn Il g. without you, Fred!
am going home on Thur day."
Going home!" he faltered, his very lips
white.
ayes, my long holiday is over, and
mamma writes that / really must superin-
tend the last touches to my trollssealL."
Your Il rousseau" cried Mrs. La Rue,
sharply.
did 1 not tell you" asked Leonie, with
wel-aeted surprise, that I am engaged to
Mr.. Dolman2"
There was a strange, hoarse cry as Fred
started to his feet, with the face Of a man
who is strangling. Mrs. La Rue's arms
were about him in a moment.
Go awayl" she cried, as Leonie loosened
Fred's necktie. "You have killed himl"
But Leonie did not 60, for in another
moment 1t took the strength of both women
% hold the boy" working in commissions.
Cries brought the servants, and q man was
cent for the doctor, but before he came
treds hte-struggle was over; and Leonis
Castlemalne knew that her heartless firta-
ton had killed him.